This monthly recap of May 2018 worldwide public holidays news and updates,
covering all the countries of the world, is based on our daily review of hundreds of on-line newspapers, government sites, and institutional sources,
and over a decade of experience following worldwide public holidays, to place current events in context, and anticipate on
possible future changes.

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Switzerland March 19 Schwyz Public Holiday Maintained (Source: Cantonal Council of Schwyz-Berne) - Summary: The Cantonal Council of Schwyz has voted-down a proposal by the FDP to demote the March 19, Josefstag, annual non-working public holiday from an official non-working public holiday in the Canton of Schwyz, to a simple "public rest day". Links: full story and other Switzerland news and updates.

Zimbabwe Electoral Public Holiday Gazetted (Source: Government of Zimbabwe-Harare) - Summary: The Electoral Amendment Act was gazetted in a Zimbabwe Gazette Extraordinary, as Act No. 6 of 2018, which states that "The polling day or polling days fixed shall be deemed to be a public holiday or public holidays, as the case may be, for the purposes of the Public Holidays and Prohibition of Business Act [Chapter 10:21].". Links: full story and other Zimbabwe news and updates.

Mongolian Public Holiday June 1 (Source: Montsame Agency-Ulaanbaatar) - Summary: The Mongolian government has announced that Friday, June 1, 2018, would once again be a non-working public holiday in Mongolia, on account of International Children's Day. Links: full story and other Mongolia news and updates.

Bolivian Public Holidays May 31 (Source: Ministerio de Trabajo, Empleo y Previsión Social-La Paz) - Summary: Bolivia's Minister of Labour has issued a communiqué which confirms that the upcoming Corpus Christi annual non-working public holiday of Bolivia would be observed on Thursday, May 31, 2018, in all sectors of the Bolivian economy. Links: full story and other Bolivia news and updates.

Paraguay Public Holiday June 11 (Source: Presidencia de la República del Paraguay-Asunción) - Summary: The Paraguayan head of presidential decrees has released a communiqué confirming that the date of the upcoming Día de la Paz del Chaco annual non-working public holiday of Paraguay would be moved to Monday, June 11, 2018, as per the terms of the previously-released "Decreto número 8108". Links: full story and other Paraguay news and updates.

Ivory Coast 2018 Lailatoul Kadr Public Holiday (Source: Gouvernement de Côte d'Ivoire-Abijan) - Summary: The government of the Ivory Coast, through its Ministère de l'Emploi, des Affaires Sociales et de la Solidarité Nationale, has announced that the date of the upcoming annual national non-working public holiday ("jour férié et chômé sur toute l'étendue du territoire national") on account of the upcoming "Nuit du destin" (Laylat al-Qadr) had been moved to Monday, June 11, 2018. Links: full story and other Côte d'Ivoire news and updates.

Vietnam 2019 Public Holidays Update (Source: Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs-Hanoi) - Summary: The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) has received feedback from the ministries it consulted last April concerning the 2 options contained in the draft annual list of the official non-working public holidays in Vietnam for the upcoming calendar year 2019, and 12 of the 14 concerned ministries have replied with a preference for Option 1, the one where the annual Tet Nguyên dán lunar new year of Vietnam would last 9 days. Links: full story and other Vietnam news and updates.

Samoan Public Holidays June 1 and 4 (Source: Samoan Ministry Of Commerce, Industry And Labour-Matagaluega o Pisinisi, Alamanuia, Leipa) - Summary: The Chief Executive Officer of the Samoan Ministry of Commerce, Industry And Labour (M.C.I.L) has announced that the government of Samoa had declared Friday and Monday, June 1 and 4, 2018, as non-working public holidays in Samoa on account of the upcoming 56th Samoan Independence Day Celebrations. Links: full story and other Samoa news and updates.

Dominican Republic Public Holiday May 31 (Source: Ministerio de Trabajo República Dominicana-Santo Domingo) - Summary: The Ministry of Labour of the Dominican Republic has issued a communiqué confirming that, as per the current public holidays legislation, Thursday, May 31, 2018, would be an official non-working public holiday in the Dominican Republic on account of the upcoming Día Corpus Christi annual immovable non-working public holiday in the Dominican Republic. Links: full story and other Dominican Republic news and updates.

Venezuelan Bank Holiday June 4 (Source: Superintendencia de Instituciones del Sector Bancario-Sudeban) - Summary: The Venezuelan regulatory body for the banking sector, Sudeban (Superintendencia de Instituciones del Sector Bancario) has announced that Monday, June 4, 2018, would be another bank holiday in Venezuela, on account of the annual "Día de Corpus Christi" ("fiesta del Cuerpo y la Sangre de Cristo") annual bank holiday of Venezuela. Links: full story and other Venezuela news and updates.

Mauritius 2019 Public Holidays Announced (Source: Prime Minister's Office-Port-Louis) - Summary: The Cabinet of the Government of Mauritius has released the "GENERAL NOTICE NO 881 OF 2018" containing its official annual list of the non-working public holidays in Mauritius for the upcoming calendar year 2019. Links: full story and other Mauritius news and updates.

Nigerian 2018 Democracy Day Public Holiday (Source: Official Gazette of the Federal Republic of Nigeria-Abuja) - Summary: The Minister of Interior of the Federal Government of Nigeria, Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau, in an announcement issued by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. M.B Umar, has announced that the Nigerian Federal Government had declared Tuesday, May 29, 2018, as a non-working public holiday in Nigeria, on account of the 2018 Democracy Day non-working public holiday of Nigeria. Links: full story and other Nigeria news and updates.

Slovakian 2018 Public Holidays Amended (Source: Ministerstvo zahranicných vecí Slovenskej republiky-Bratislava) - Summary: The government of Slovakia has approved a recommendation by Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini (Smer) who had proposed that Slovakia should celebrate the centenary of its independence with a one-off non-working public holiday in Slovakia on October 30, 2018. Links: full story and other Slovakia news and updates.

Latvia May 1 Public Holiday Swap Update (Source: LETA News Agency-Riga) - Summary: The bill which would cancel the annual May 1st public holiday of Latvia in exchange for the declaration of a new annual non-working public holiday, on November 11, was passed today in a second, non-final, vote of the Seima.Links: full story and other Latvia news and updates.

Romania Rules-Out Extended May Public Holidays (Source: Mediafax-Bucharest) - Summary: The Romanian Ministry of Labor and Communication has denied rumours that May 29, 30 and 31, would be declared as one-off bridge public holidays in Romania, to link the upcoming Pentecost Monday public holiday of Romania with the June 1, Children's Day, public holiday of Romania. Links: full story and other Romania news and updates.

Gambian Public Holiday May 25 (Source: Office of the President of the Gambia-Banjul) - Summary: The Office of the President of the Gambia, Adama Barrow, has announced that Friday, May 25, 2018, had been declared as a non-working public holiday throughout Gambia "in observance of the Africa Day, formerly known as African Liberation Day". Links: full story and other The Gambia news and updates.

Guinea Conakry Public Holiday May 25 (Source: Portail Officiel du Gouvernement de la République de Guinée-Conakry) - Summary: The government of Guinea Conakry, through a joint announcement from its Ministre de la Fonction Publique, de la Réforme de l’Etat et de la Modernisation de l’Administration and the Ministre de l’Enseignement Technique, de la Formation Professionnelle, de l’Emploi et du Travail, has announced that Friday, May 25, 2018, had been declared as a non-working public holiday in Guinea Conakry on account of the upcoming "Africa Day". Links: full story and other Guinea news and updates.

Spain 2019 Andalucia Public Holidays Announced (Source: Boletín Oficial de la Junta de Andalucía-BOJA) - Summary: The Consejo de Gobierno de la Junta de Andalucía has announced its annual list of non-working public holidays (calendario laboral) in Spain's Autonomous Region of Andalucia for the calendar year 2019 ("calendario de fiestas laborales en Andalucía para el año 2019"). Links: full story and other Spain news and updates.

Suriname 145th Indian Arrival Anniversary Public Holiday (Source: Kabinet van de President van de Republiek Suriname-Paramarimbo) - Summary: The Suriname Raad van Ministers (Council of Ministers) has announced that it had decided to declare Tuesday, June 5, 2018, as a one-off non-working public holiday throughout Suriname to commemorate the 145th anniversary of the arrival of indentured "Hindustani" workers. Links: full story and other Suriname news and updates.

Turkey Amends 2019, 2021 and 2022 Public Holidays (Source: Din Hizmetleri Genel Müdürlügü- Diyanet Isleri Baskanligi Müdürlükler-Istanbul) - Summary: Turkey's General Directorate of Religious Services, in conjunction with the Presidency of Religious Affairs of Turkey, have announced amendments to the previously-released list of public holidays in Turkey for the years 2019, 2021 and 2022. Links: full story and other Turkey news and updates.

India Nagaland Public Holiday May 28 (Source: Government of Nagaland-Dimapur) - Summary: The Government of India's State of Nagaland has declared May 28, the upcoming by-elections day of polling, as a one-off non-working public holiday in Nagaland for all the employees of government/private establishments and shops in the state. Links: full story and other India news and updates.

Ivory Coast Public Holiday May 21 (Source: Gouvernement de Côte d'Ivoire-Abijan) - Summary: The government of the Ivory Coast has announced that it had declared Monday, May 21, 2018, the day after the upcoming dimanche la fête de la pentecôte, as a non-working public holiday in the Ivory Coast. Links: full story and other Côte d'Ivoire news and updates.

Spain 2019 Valencia Public Holidays Announced (Source: Consell de la Generalitat Valenciana-Valencia) - Summary: The Consell de la Generalitat Valenciana has announced its annual official calendar of non-working public holidays in Spain's autonomous region of Valencia ("calendario laboral en toda la Comunidad Valenciana") for the upcoming calendar year 2019. Links: full story and other Spain news and updates.

Cameroon Public Holiday May 21 (Source: Présidence de la République du Cameroun-Yaoundé) - Summary: The government of Cameroon has declared Monday, May 21, 2018, as a day in lieu non-working public holiday (feriée chômée sur toute l'étendue du territoire de la république du Cameroun) due to the annual upcoming, May 20, Fête de l’unité, non-working public holiday of Cameroon falling on a Sunday in 2018. Links: full story and other Cameroon news and updates.

Ecuador Public Holiday May 25-27 (Source: Agencia de Noticias del Ecuador y Sudamérica-ANDES) - Summary: Ecuador's Minister of Tourism (Ministro de Turismo), has issued a communique confirming that the upcoming May 24, conmemoración de la Batalla de Pichincha, annual public holiday of Ecuador is a compulsory annual non-working public holiday in Ecuador which will be observed, this year, on Friday, May 25, 2018. Links: full story and other Ecuador news and updates.

Saint-Martin Public Holiday Amendment (Source: Journal officiel-JORF) - Summary: France's Saint-Martin DOM-TOM has released the "circulaire du 4 mai 2018 du Comité National pour la Mémoire et l’Histoire de l’Esclavage" which announces that the upcoming "Commémoration de l’abolition de l’esclavage à Saint-Martin" annual non-working public holiday in Saint-Martin, had been moved to Monday, May 28, 2018. Links: full story and other Saint Martin news and updates.

Timor Leste Public Holiday May 21 (Source: Press Release Government Of Timor-Leste-Dili) - Summary: The government of Timor Leste has announced that it had once again decided to extend the annual Independence Restoration public holidays in Timor Leste by declaring an additional day-off public sector holiday (toleránsia pontu) on Monday, May 21, 2018. Links: full story and other East Timor news and updates.

Anguilla Public Holiday May 25 (Source: Government of Anguilla-The Valley) - Summary: The Anguillan Government Executive Council has approved the declaration of Friday, May 25, 2018, as a one-off public holiday in Anguilla, to allow all Anguillians and others the necessary time to attend the funeral service of the late Sir Emile Gumbs, Anguilla's second, and longest-serving, chief minister. Links: full story and other Anguilla news and updates.

Moldova Renews June 1st Public Holiday For 2018 (Source: Agentia Informationala de Stat-Moldpres) - Summary: The Moldavian Cabinet has once again approved a decree on the declaration of Friday, June 1st, 2018, as a non-working public holiday in Moldova, on account of International Children's Day. Links: full story and other Moldova news and updates.

Burundi Public Holiday May 17 (Source: Le Portail des Institutions-Bujumbura) - Summary: Earlier today, Burundi's Minister of Labor (ministre de la Fonction publique, du Travail et de l'Emploi), Félix Mpozeriniga, announced that Thursday, May 17, 2018, had been declared as an additional non-working public holiday in Burundi, on account of the upcoming "référendum constitutionnel". Links: full story and other Burundi news and updates.

Indonesian 2018 Bank Holidays Amended (Source: Central Bank of Republic of Indonesia-Jakarta) - Summary: Indonesia's Central Bank, has released an amended version of its previously-released list of 2018 bank holidays in Indonesia. Links: full story and other Indonesia news and updates.

Sri Lankan 2019 Poya Public Holidays Announced (Source: The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka-Colombo) - Summary: Sri Lanka's Ministry of Public Administration and Home Affairs has published in the "Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka", its annual official list of the Sri Lankan Poya Day non-working public holidays in Sri Lanka for the upcoming calendar year 2019. Links: full story and other Sri Lanka news and updates.

Luxemburg 2019 Bank Holidays Announced (Source: Luxemburger Bankenvereinigung-Luxemburg) - Summary: The Luxembourg Bankers' Association (Luxemburger Bankenvereinigung) has issued its annual list of official bank holidays in Luxembourg for the upcoming calendar year 2019. Links: full story and other Luxembourg news and updates.

Zimbabwe Mulls Summer Electoral Public Holiday (Source: Government of Zimbabwe-Harare) - Summary: Zimbabwe's President, Emmerson Mnangagwa, is reported to be considering the declaration of a one-off public holiday in Zimbabwe on the occasion of the coming Presidential and Parliamentary elections, scheduled for July or August of 2018. Links: full story and other Zimbabwe news and updates.

Venezuelan Bank Holiday May 14 (Source: Superintendencia de Instituciones del Sector Bancario-Sudeban) - Summary: The Venezuelan regulatory body for the banking sector, Sudeban (Superintendencia de Instituciones del Sector Bancario) has announced that Monday, May 14, 2018, would be a bank holiday in Venezuela, on account of the annual "Ascensión del Señor") annual bank holiday of Venezuela. Links: full story and other Venezuela news and updates.

Hong Kong 2019 Public Holidays Released (Source: Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government-HKSAR) - Summary: The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has released its annual official list of the gazetted 2019 public holidays to be observed in Hong Kong ("General holidays for 2019"), in accordance with the Employment Ordinance and General Holidays Ordinance as well as amendments thereto. Links: full story and other Hong Kong news and updates.

Nepalese Bhoto Jatra Public Holiday May 13 (Source: Nepalese Ministry of Home Affairs-Kathmandu) - Summary: The Home Ministry of the Government of Nepal has announced that Sunday, May 13, 2018, had been declared as the date of this year's Bhoto Jatra of Rato Machhindranath non-working public holiday in Nepal's Kathmandu Valley. Links: full story and other Nepal news and updates.

Gambian Public Holiday May 12 (Source: Office of the President of the Gambia-Banjul) - Summary: The Office of the President of the Gambia, Adama Barrow, has announced that Saturday, May 12, 2018, had been declared as a non-working public holiday throughout Gambia "to enable eligible voters to cast their ballots in the Mayoral Elections". Links: full story and other The Gambia news and updates.

Malaysia Declares Public Holidays May 17-18 (Source: Bernama News Agency-Kuching) - Summary: The Chief Minister's Office of the government of Malaysia's State of Sarawak has announced that Sarawak would observe post-election public holidays next Thursday and Friday, May 17 and 18, 2018, instead of May 10 and 11, 2018, as announced yesterday by the Malaysian Federal Government. Links: full story and other Malaysia news and updates.

Malaysia Declares May 10-11 Public Holidays (Source: Bernama News Agency-Kuala Lumpur) - Summary: The Chief Secretary to the newly elected Malaysian Government, Tan Sri Ali Hamsa, has announced that Thursday and Friday, May 10-11, 2018, would be non-working public holidays in Malaysia (for states whose weekends fall on Friday and Saturday, the additional public holiday will fall on Sunday May 13). Links: full story and other Malaysia news and updates.

Estonian Bill To Extend Easter Public Holidays (Source: Eesti Rahvusringhääling-ERR) - Summary: The constitutional committee of the Estonian parliament has rejected a proposal of the Estonian Conservative People's Party (EKRE) to declare Easter Monday as a new annual non-working public holiday in Estonia. Links: full story and other Estonia news and updates.

Malaysia Could Add May 14-15 Public Holidays (Source: Bernama News Agency-Kuala Lumpur) - Summary: The caretaker prime minister of Malaysia, Najib Abdul Razak, has announced that Monday and Tuesday, May 14-15, 2018, would be declared as one-off non-working public holidays in Malaysia, should the BN (Barisan Nasional) party win tomorrow's general election. Links: full story and other Malaysia news and updates.

Canada To Review Ontario Public Holidays Rules (Source: The Government of the Province of Ontario-Toronto) - Summary: The Government of Canada's Province of Ontario has announced that it will conduct a review of the public holiday system under Part X of the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA) following feedback and discussions with stakeholders. Links: full story and other Canada news and updates.

Armenian Public Holiday May 8 (Source: Armenian News Agency-ARMENPRESS) - Summary: The leader of the Armenia's opposition, Nikol Pashinyan, slated to be nominated as Prime Minister, tomorrow, has announced that he would immediately declare Tuesday, May 8, 2018, as a one-off non-working public holiday throughout Armenia. Links: full story and other Armenia news and updates.

Malaysia Kedah Thaipusam Public Holiday Update (Source: Bernama News Agency-Alor Setar) - Summary: The caretaker Menteri Besar of the Malaysian State of Kedah, Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah, who is also the BN Chairman for Kedah, has announced that Thaipusam would be made an annual non-working public holiday in Kedah if the BN party retains the state with a two-thirds majority in the 14th general election on May 9. Links: full story and other Malaysia news and updates.

Oman Start of Ramadan 2018 (Source: Oman News Agency-Muscat) - Summary: Oman's Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs has announced that the first day of Ramadan in Oman will be Thursday, May 17, 2018. Links: full story and other Oman news and updates.

Nigeria Mulls PVC Public Holidays (Source: Official Gazette of the Federal Republic of Nigeria-Abuja) - Summary: Nigerian Senator, Oluremi Tinubu, has urged the Nigerian Federal Government to declare official non-working public holidays to facilitate the collection of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs), ahead of the December 2018 deadline. Links: full story and other Nigeria news and updates.

Palau Senior Citizens' Day 2018 Public Holiday (Source: Palau Government-Koror) - Summary: The government of Palau has announced that Saturday, May 5, 2018, would be the date of the upcoming Senior Citizens' Day annual non-working public holiday in Palau. Links: full story and other Palau news and updates.

Nepalese Public Holiday May 11 (Source: Nepalese Ministry of Home Affairs-Kathmandu) - Summary: The provincial government of Nepal's Province No. 2 has announced that Friday, May 11, 2018, had been declared as a non-working public holiday in Nepal's Province No. 2, when Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, visits Janakpur and the Janaki Temple. Links: full story and other Nepal news and updates.

India 2018 Haryana Public Holidays Amended (Source: Government of Haryana-Chandigarh) - Summary: The government of the Indian State of Haryana has amended its previously-released list of 2018 public holidays in Haryana State by declaring Sunday, May 13, 2018, as a public holiday for that date's municipal elections. Links: full story and other India news and updates.

Sri Lanka Clarifies May 7 Public Holiday (Source: Ministry of Public Administration and Home Affairs-Colombo) - Summary: Sri Lanka's Home Affairs Minister, Vajira Abeywardena, has issued a statement clarifying the applicability of the upcoming May 7, 2018, public holiday for the Sri Lankan private sector. Links: full story and other Sri Lanka news and updates.

India Karnataka Public Holiday May 12 (Source: Government of Karnataka-Bengaluru) - Summary: The Government of India's State of Karnataka has invoked Section 135 (B) of the "Representation of People’s Act, 1954" to declare Saturday, May 12, 2018, as a one-off non-working public holiday in the Indian State of Karnataka for the Assembly elections in Karnataka. Links: full story and other India news and updates.

Latvia Mulls May 1 Public Holiday Swap (Source: LETA News Agency-Riga) - Summary: A bill which has been introduced in the Saeima which would cancel the annual May 1st public holiday of Latvia in exchange for the declaration of a new annual non-working public holiday, on November 11, the day when Latvia traditionally remembers its fallen soldiers, and one week before the November 18 annual Independence Day public holiday of Latvia. Links: full story and other Latvia news and updates.

Philippines Public Holiday May 14 (Source: Philippine Information Agency-Manila) - Summary: Earlier today, Philippines President, Rodrigo Duterte, issued Proclamation 479 declaring Monday, May 14, 2018, as a special non-working public holiday throughout the Philippines on account of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections. Links: full story and other Philippines news and updates.

Algeria Votes Amazigh Public Holiday (Source: Direction Générale de la Fonction Publique-Algiers) - Summary: The Algerian law on public holidays, enshrining the addition of Amazigh (aka. Berber) New Year as a new public holiday in Algeria, approved last month by Algeria's Council of Ministers, was approved unanimously by Algeria's Popular Assembly (APN). Links: full story and other Algeria news and updates.

Paraguayan May 14-15 Public Holidays (Source: Presidencia de la República del Paraguay-Asunción) - Summary: The Paraguayan head of presidential decrees, Édgar Rodas, has released a communique confirming that May 14 is a permanent part of the list of dates of the Paraguayan public holidays, as per ley 4.531. Links: full story and other Paraguay news and updates.